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Millions of people in the UK are increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by failing to take simple steps to lower their cholesterol, according to research recently carried out by HEART UK, the cholesterol charity.

An educational programme to combat high mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Brazil was unveiled recently by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), at the 66th Annual Congress of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (BSC), held in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Xanthelasmata around the upper or lower eyelids are markers of an individual’s increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research¹ published recently on bmj.com.



Oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto®, Bayer HealthCare) has been recommended by the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and prevention of recurrent DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE) following an acute DVT in adults. It is also recommended for the prevention of stroke and non central nervous system (CNS) systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Apixaban was shown to be superior to warfarin for the reduction of stroke or systemic embolism with significantly less major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation in the Phase 3 ARISTOTLE trial, according to results presented during a packed Hot Line session at the 2011 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Paris, and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine.¹

Dr Jay Wright, Consultant Cardiologist, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, spoke to Arrhythmia Watch on the benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) and remote monitoring technology. He assesses the benefits for patients’ quality of life and exercise capacity, as well as healthcare savings through reduced hospital admissions. Dr Wright also examines the CRT selection criteria of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), arguing that some patients with atrial fibrillation, judged ineligible, could benefit considerably.

The AF AWARE (Atrial Fibrillation Awareness And Risk Education) campaign, announced the launch of the Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care (AFIP) tool, at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2011 in Paris. It has been developed to help primary care physicians (PCPs) with early diagnosis and optimal management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

A new oral anticoagulant, dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa®, Boehringer Ingelheim), has been made available in the UK. Following the EU licence for dabigatran, granted on 1st August 2011,¹ a recommended dose of 150 mg twice daily is now licensed in the UK for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in eligible adult patients with AF.

The first prospective, multicentre evaluation of magnetic navigation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation has concluded, its results having been announced at the European Society of Cardiology’s (ESC) recent 2011 Congress.¹

The first patient has been enrolled, in Hamburg, Germany, for the largest pan-European study to determine whether an early comprehensive rhythm control strategy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) will benefit patients.